CleanChoice Energy Reviews: DC Shoppers (2026)

Picture a Capitol Hill renter who wants wind power on her bill but does not want to install solar panels or call her landlord. CleanChoice Energy was built for exactly that person.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Washington DC, CleanChoice Energy is a retail electricity supplier that sells 100% renewable energy products, primarily wind and solar, to residential and small-business customers. The company operates in deregulated markets across the country, and Washington DC is one of its core service areas.

CleanChoice does not own the wires. Pepco still delivers the electricity, handles outages, and sends the monthly bill. CleanChoice simply replaces the supply portion of that bill with power it sources from renewable generators. The DC Public Service Commission (DCPSC) licenses all retail suppliers operating in the District, and CleanChoice holds that license.

The company has received notable press coverage for its mission-driven positioning, and it was acquired by a larger energy firm in recent years, though it continues to operate under the CleanChoice brand.

Washington DC is a deregulated electricity market. That means residents can choose who supplies their electricity, even though Pepco remains the only utility that delivers power through the physical grid.

If you do nothing, Pepco automatically supplies your power through what the DCPSC calls Standard Offer Service (SOS). SOS rates change periodically and are set by the commission. As of August 2026, Pepco's default SOS supply rate is approximately 17.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

When you enroll with a competitive supplier like CleanChoice, you are replacing only that supply charge. Pepco still delivers your power, still handles any outages, and still sends your bill. The supplier name and rate simply change on the supply line.

The DCPSC oversees this process and requires all licensed suppliers to meet disclosure standards. You can find a full list of licensed suppliers and their current rates at ElectricRates.org's Washington DC page.

This is the question most DC shoppers want answered, and it is also the most important one.

As of August 2026, Pepco's SOS supply rate sits at approximately 17.6 cents per kilowatt-hour. The lowest competitive supplier rate currently available in the DC market is around 17.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a thin margin that varies by product and enrollment date.

CleanChoice Energy sells a renewable product, and renewable products typically carry a premium over commodity supply. That premium exists because CleanChoice is sourcing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or directly contracted renewable generation rather than pulling from the cheapest mix on the grid. The exact CleanChoice rate at any given moment can shift, so the only reliable way to see their current offer is to check directly or compare at ElectricRates.org.

The honest framing: if saving money is the primary goal, CleanChoice is rarely the cheapest option. If reducing carbon footprint and supporting renewable generation matters more than shaving a few dollars off the bill, CleanChoice is one of the more straightforward ways to do it in DC without a rooftop installation.

Customer reviews of CleanChoice Energy span a wide range, and reading them carefully reveals some consistent patterns.

Positive themes in reviews:
Many customers praise CleanChoice for making renewable enrollment simple. The sign-up process is frequently described as fast, the confirmation communications are clear, and the company's mission resonates with environmentally motivated buyers. Customers who care primarily about supporting wind and solar generation often report satisfaction, especially when they understood upfront that they were paying a premium for that choice.

Negative themes in reviews:
The most common complaint across review platforms is sticker shock. Some customers say they did not fully understand the rate difference before enrolling, either because they glossed over the pricing disclosure or because a door-to-door or online enrollment flow did not make the premium obvious enough. A secondary complaint involves auto-renewal, with some customers reporting that their contract renewed at a rate higher than the introductory price.

A smaller number of reviews mention difficulty canceling, though CleanChoice is legally required by DCPSC rules to allow customers to return to Pepco SOS. Processing times for cancellation can take a billing cycle, which frustrates some shoppers expecting an immediate switch.

The pattern to watch:
Reviews tend to be most positive from customers who went in eyes-open about the premium and most negative from customers who compared their bill to a neighbor on SOS and felt misled. The product itself, 100% renewable supply, generally works as advertised.

CleanChoice Energy has historically offered both fixed-rate and variable-rate products. Fixed-rate plans lock in a supply rate for a defined term, typically six to twenty-four months. Variable-rate plans fluctuate month to month and can go up or down with market conditions.

Key things to confirm before enrolling with any supplier, including CleanChoice:

Early termination fees. Some CleanChoice fixed plans carry a cancellation fee if you leave before the term ends. The exact amount varies by contract, so read the terms of service before signing.

Auto-renewal language. Many supplier contracts renew automatically at a potentially different rate. DCPSC rules require suppliers to notify customers before renewal, but it pays to calendar that notice window.

Rate disclosure. Licensed DC suppliers must provide a written disclosure of the rate and terms before enrollment is complete. If you did not receive one, that is a red flag and something the DCPSC wants to hear about.

For current contract details, CleanChoice's website and customer service line are the right resources. Do not rely on a third-party description of terms, including this one, because products change.

Yes. CleanChoice Energy is a licensed retail electricity supplier in Washington DC, regulated by the DCPSC. It is not a scam in the sense of taking money without delivering a product.

The renewable energy claims are generally credible. CleanChoice backs its 100% renewable product with RECs, which is the standard mechanism for renewable attribution in deregulated markets. A REC represents the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour of generation from a qualifying renewable source. Critics of REC-based products note that the physical electrons on the grid are still the same mix, but purchasing RECs does fund renewable generation and is an accepted industry and regulatory standard.

The DCPSC licenses and monitors all competitive suppliers. If CleanChoice (or any supplier) violates disclosure rules or engages in deceptive enrollment practices, the commission has authority to investigate and penalize. Complaints can be filed directly with the DCPSC.

CleanChoice Energy makes the most sense for a specific type of DC electricity shopper.

Good fit: Renters or homeowners who want to support renewable energy and are willing to pay a modest premium over the SOS rate to do so. People who value a simple enrollment process and clear renewable branding. Households or offices that have made public or internal commitments to carbon reduction and want their electricity supply to reflect that.

Less ideal fit: Shoppers whose primary goal is paying less than Pepco's SOS rate. Those on tight budgets where even a small per-kilowatt-hour premium adds up over a year. Anyone who expects the lowest-cost option among competitive suppliers, because CleanChoice is not positioned as the price leader.

The District's own Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) offers programs for low-income households and sustainability-focused residents, some of which may overlap with or complement a green supplier choice. Checking with DOEE before committing to a private supplier is worth the time for income-qualifying households.

The single most important step is comparing the offered rate, in cents per kilowatt-hour, against the current Pepco SOS rate before enrolling. That comparison is the whole ballgame.

As of August 2026, Pepco's SOS supply rate is approximately 17.6 cents per kilowatt-hour. If a supplier quotes you something lower, verify the term and whether the rate is fixed or variable. If a supplier quotes you something higher, understand exactly what you are getting for the difference, such as renewable attributes, a fixed term that protects against SOS increases, or both.

A few practical steps:

1. Check the current SOS rate on your Pepco bill or at the DCPSC website.
2. Get the supplier's rate in writing before agreeing to anything.
3. Read the cancellation and auto-renewal terms.
4. Compare multiple suppliers, not just one, at ElectricRates.org's Washington DC comparison page.

Switching back to Pepco SOS is always an option if a supplier's rate rises above what you want to pay. No DC resident is locked into a supplier permanently, and the DCPSC enforces that right.

CleanChoice Energy is a legitimate, DCPSC-licensed supplier with a clear product: 100% renewable electricity delivered through Pepco's grid at a rate that typically sits above the default SOS price.

The reviews tell a consistent story. Customers who understand the tradeoff before enrolling, paying a small premium for renewable sourcing, generally feel good about the product. Customers who did not read the rate closely or were enrolled through an aggressive sales pitch tend to leave negative reviews rooted in bill surprise rather than product failure.

As of August 2026, with Pepco's SOS rate at roughly 17.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, the spread between default supply and a premium green product matters more than it did when rates were lower. That makes careful rate comparison more important, not less.

Before choosing CleanChoice or any other competitive supplier, use a live comparison tool to see all available options side by side. ElectricRates.org updates rates regularly and covers the full DC market.